Question regarding Compostela

[Gman]

Hello, my friends. Advice, please. I am walking the French Way in May of 2019. Leaving form SJPP. When I arrive in Santiago on/about June 1, I am joining up with a few friends for a two or three day bike ride around the coast. Again, this will be biking and NOT part of my just completed Camino walk. Is it OK for me to delay presenting my pilgrim passport until I return to Santiago (no more than 2 or 3 days from walk completion) when I will have more time or must it be presented immediately upon completion of my walk. Any thoughts? Thanks. Gman

 

[Tincatinker]

You will need to keep a detailed record of your every activity between arriving in Santiago and finally presenting yourself at the Pilgrims Office. Photographs and videos may help. Ideally you will need two accredited witnesses who are able to certify that you have been engaged in pleasurable activities rather than just queuing...

I'm joking by the way. Provided that your Credencial evidences a continuous journey on foot for the last 100km in to Santiago you can claim your Compostella whenever you like.

 

[Gman]

Thanks. You made me smile. Gman

 

[t2andreo]

There is no requirement to present yourself at the Pilgrim Office promptly after you arrive at Santiago. I always go the following day, after I have a shower and a fresh change of clothes.

Indeed, many folks party first, like for a weekend, then stumble into the office sometime on Monday for their Compostelas. On occasion, we can smell the alcohol fumes...

Enjoy your bicycle tour...

 

[Gman]

Thanks for clearing this up for me. The folks on this forum are simply the best. Gman.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Hello, my friends. Advice, please. I am walking the French Way in May of 2019. Leaving form SJPP. When I arrive in Santiago on/about June 1, I am joining up with a few friends for a two or three day bike ride around the coast. Again, this will be biking and NOT part of my just completed Camino walk. Is it OK for me to delay presenting my pilgrim passport until I return to Santiago (no more than 2 or 3 days from walk completion) when I will have more time or must it be presented immediately upon completion of my walk. Any thoughts? Thanks. Gman

I don't know, but there's nothing to prevent collecting 2 stamps/day on that (lovely-sounding) post-Camino biking trip -- which I personally think you'd be perfectly mistaken to consider as "separate" from your pilgrimage.

It won't be.

 

[JabbaPapa]

BTW you can as it were "jump the queue" at the Pilgrim's Office on your arrival day, as an alternative, by walking around the queue, then asking at the door for "solo sello" (stamp only), if you were worried about administrative propriety and &c. , which would prove your completion of the walk.

Then queue up after the biking trip for the Compostela certificate.

But I still think you should treat the 2-3 days biking as an integral part of your Camino.

 

[Lisa HS]

One other thing. When I went to get my Compostela the day after I arrived in Santiago they insisted on putting that day's date on my Compostela, even though I told then I'd arrived the day before. It didn't matter in the slightest to me, but might to someone else. This is just one person's experience...your mileage may vary.

 

[drvnsmiln]

Okay, I have a question and am not sure where to post... I am leaving from Valencia March 2 to walk the Levante. The credentials I purchased in Salamanca and SCQ in 2017 state "2 stamps a day", saying nothing about 100km. Is the rule still that is only for the last 100km, or has something changed and I will need to collect 2 per day starting in Valencia/Silla? Thank you all.

 

[drvnsmiln]

Oh and yes, I am hoping for a certificate of distance as well...

 

[JabbaPapa]

Okay, I have a question and am not sure where to post... I am leaving from Valencia March 2 to walk the Levante. The credentials I purchased in Salamanca and SCQ in 2017 state "2 stamps a day", saying nothing about 100km. Is the rule still that is only for the last 100km, or has something changed and I will need to collect 2 per day starting in Valencia/Silla? Thank you all.

It's still the last 100K

 

[drvnsmiln]

It's still the last 100K

Thank you!